Freshman dies after fall from dorm window
By Meghan Williams
Flat Hat News Editor
Freshman Gregory Thomas Bak died early last Friday morning after falling from an upper-story window in an apparent suicide. His body was discovered on the sidewalk outside his dormitory, Monroe Hall, shortly before 6 a.m. by a ROTC student walking to a morning physical training session, according to Vice President for Student Affairs Sam Sadler.
Sadler said there were no known witnesses and that Bak's death had occurred after 2 a.m.
Bak's death is the second suicide in a week to affect the College community, and during a press conference held last Friday Sadler stressed the infrequency of such events. He said that to the best of his memory, in his 35 years at the College, there had been fewer than nine suicides, which is less than half the national average. Sadler also said that before the graduate student Elizabeth John's death last week, it had been six years since the last suicide at the College.
"This is a day we've all been struggling with quite a bit," Sadler said at the beginning of the press conference.
Sadler said informing the student body was important because of the closeness of the College community.
"An incident like this reverberates through the community," he said, but added that closeness was also a strength in times like these.
According to Sadler, a note was found in Bak's dorm room about 11 a.m. last Friday morning. Bak's family requested the contents of the note be kept private, but Sadler did say that it did not reflect any problems with the College as Bak's reason for committing suicide.
"It is fair to say that there was no connection between what he did and William and Mary," Sadler said, basing his conclusions on the contents of the note.
Sadler added that the action came as a surprise to those who knew Bak.
"No one saw this coming, which makes it all the more difficult," he said.
In an e-mail to the student body, Sadler discussed all the contributions Bak made to the school even though he was only a freshman. Bak was a pledge of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and a ROTC cadet, in addition to participating in several intramural sports. Like most of the students in Monroe Hall, Bak was a Monroe Scholar. Additionally, he was a member of Monroe Hall Council.
Arrangements by the DeMaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd., Springfield, Va., included two viewings Monday and Tuesday nights. Bak's funeral was held Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
A campus memorial service for Bak was scheduled for today at 2 p.m. in the Crim Dell Meadow, near the west end of the Sunken Gardens. According to Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler, the event was organized by students, including some of Bak's friends from Monroe and an SAE pledge brother.
"We decided to do it outdoors so we could accommodate as many people as possible who wanted to come," Ambler said.
She added that she expected the service to be well-attended by students from Monroe and SAE.
In another e-mail to the student body, Sadler said the rain location for the service is the Commonwealth Auditorium of the University Center. He added that the service includes a time for those who wish to share a memory of Bak, as well as a book in which students may write their thoughts. The book will be shared with the Bak family when complete. The entire College community was invited to attend the service.
According to Sadler, Bak's family asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression at 60 Cutter Mill Rd., Ste. 404, Great Neck, N.Y. 11021.
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